Houma bridge still delayed; council wants fines increased

Thursday

Nov 15, 2012 at 6:57 PM

The Terrebonne Parish Council voted Wednesday to issue a letter to the state Department of Transportation and Development requesting that it increase the daily fine for each day the Prospect Street Bridge remains closed.

Chance RyanStaff Writer

The Terrebonne Parish Council voted Wednesday to issue a letter to the state Department of Transportation and Development requesting that it increase the daily fine for each day the Prospect Street Bridge remains closed. Baton Rouge-based James Construction Co. has been acquiring $5,000 fines for each day the bridge, crossing Bayou Terrebonne, remains unfinished since Oct. 1. The council wants that fine increased to $10,000. Although the transportation department is in charge of the project, which includes widening nearby portions of La. 24 and Prospect Street, council members said increasing the fine to $10,000 could help move the project along. “Maybe that will get a little action because the $5,000 a day isn’t getting any action,” council Vice Chairman Pete Lambert said, The bridge underwent final inspection Wednesday, where DOTD engineers examined all the signals, lifts and gears for approval. Parish President Michel Claudet said he spoke with DOTD officials Wednesday, and they told him of items that still need work.“They talked about a date that would be sometime after Thanksgiving,” Claudet said. “I don’t know if that means a day after Thanksgiving or a week.”The bridge construction project involved removing the two-lane span across Bayou Terrebonne near Houma and replacing it with a $26.7 million six-lane bridge. The project was supposed to be completed in May. DOTD officials said the delays are a result of weather and equipment issues. “They had delays, so they were granted concessions for that,” Lambert said. “But about two months ago they gave us a confirmed estimate that it would be open by Nov. 12, which it hasn’t. This thing could be drawn out through the Christmas holidays.”Before the bridge closed, more than 18,000 motorists used the span daily, according to state traffic data. In one 30-day month, that’s about 540,000 vehicles crossing the bridge. Lambert said the bridge closing has prompted residents to take unnecessary routes.“It’s putting traffic all over the place where it shouldn’t be.”

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